Since the advent of streaming, there are more ways than ever for viewers toenjoy their favorite comfort TV dramas. However, it’s also hard to ignore how certain shows have aged. Few shows have matured as well as NBC’s hit seriesLittle House on the Prairie. Based on the beloved book series byLaura Ingalls Wilder,the series smartly tackled important topics and told impactful character stories. Indeed, there was no shortage of meaningful storytelling in Walnut Grove.
However, asNetflix prepares to reboot the Ingalls saga, there isonestoryline that needs to be reworked. The oldest Ingalls daughter,Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson), was set up for what was one of the show’s most meaningful shake-ups when she lost her sense of sight. While this is an affliction that affected the real Mary Ingalls and the series set the arc up with the best of intentions, the way Mary’s arc ended up playing out fell short.
Mary’s Arc on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Started Strong
Little House on the Prairietook many libertieswith both its source material and the real-life events that inspired Wilder’s books, though the real Mary Ingalls did indeed go blind. The show even largely got Mary’s age right, as she lost her vision at age 14.While the show follows the suggestions of Wilder’s booksin saying that Ingalls vision loss was due to Scarlet Fever, she more likely lost it as theresult of viral meningoencephalitis. Nonetheless, NBC’s adaptation did a wonderful job setting the story up. A two-part outing that aired as the Season 4 finale, “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away” certainly sets up a deep story for Mary. It’s quite an emotional two-hours as it shows the entire process,from Mary finding out she will lose her sight, to the trauma she experiences in the wake of the event, as well as going off to a school for the blind and meeting her future husband, Adam (played by futureMalcolm in the Middlecreator,Linwood Boomer).
Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot Is Actually Happening — And It’s Found Its Lead
Yet another classic show is getting the reboot treatment.
Despite the series cramming so much story into such a short period, the outings are well done. Anderson gives a strong performance throughout (a tradition she would continue inanother deep Mary story years later), while the show at large uses time gaps effectively to build a story that is both suspenseful and uplifting. Of all ofLittle House on the Prairie’s supersized episodes, it ranks right up there with “A Look Back to Yesterday” and “The Last Farewell,” making it seem as though Mary’s new reality was to be a promising one. However, it’s hard to ignore how hard the arc pivoted just a few short years after the fact.
‘Little House on the Prairie’ Didn’t Do Mary’s Story Justice in Later Seasons
It may have gotten off to a strong start, but Mary’s journey onLittle House on the Prairieunfortunately declined. Early episodes seemed to follow in the footsteps of “I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away,” as Mary was portrayed with a wonderful strength that rivaledthe series’ signature leaders. In fact, the installments that followed aresurprisingly ahead of their timein the way they portrayed Mary’s disability, such as when she opened a school for the blind in Walnut Grove. This didn’t last long, however. As the seasons progressed,her stories and presence were not only greatly reduced, but they also became jarringly unthoughtful. Later seasons saw thebeloved character thrown into situationsthat ranged from awkward to downright hard to watch.
One such example was an outing titled “The Winoka Warriors.” While a large part of the episode featured Mary and Adam attempting to champion a visually-impaired student during a community football game, the episode’s treatment of Mary is very awkward, as she’s sidelined throughout with occasional updates about the game given to her. Sure, the episode has a great moral center, but its execution just feels awkward. As time went on, her resilience just often wasn’t there or was being challengedin ways that seemed both unfitting and even cruel. In fact, the shift in writing led Anderson to question her future on the series.
Why Did Melissa Sue Anderson Leave ‘Little House on the Prairie’?
It’s always difficult whenan actor leaves a series, andLittle House on the Prairiewent through that a few times. BothMichael LandonandKaren Grassledropped from series regulars to recurring cast following the show’s eighth season (which ultimately led to its cancellation andthe heart-wrenching final film). However, Anderson was the firstLittle Housemainstay to depart from Walnut Grove. Following the end of Season 7, Anderson decided to leave the show.
While she did make a few guest appearances at the start of Season 8, Anderson cited the decline of Mary’s stories as her reason for stepping away from the role she’d been playing since childhood. AsWoman’s Worldrecalls, “I was blind and boring. Either I was just there not doing much or going through some tragedy. I couldn’t take it anymore.It becametoo soap opera-ish.” Sadly, Mary’s story didn’t ever feel complete after she and Adam left Walnut Grove, and the once-beloved character practically vanished from the series altogether. It’s a disappointing end to an arc that began with so much promise.Netflix’s reboot ofLittle House on the Prairiehas a unique opportunity to not only give Mary a stronger arc, but to properly represent the blind community.
Little House on the Prairie
